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UN Warns Bolivia Crisis Could 'Spin Out of Control' as Death Toll Mounts

Reuters

   LA PAZ, BOLIVIA - The United Nations warned Saturday that violence in
   Bolivia could "spin out of control,"following a night of skirmishes
   between security forces and cocafarmers loyal to ousted President Evo
   Morales that left at leasteight dead.

   Morales resigned under pressure from Bolivia's police andmilitary last
   Sunday after evidence of vote rigging tainted hisOctober 20 election
   victory. He fled to Mexico.

   The leftist and charismatic former coca farmer has sincecalled his
   ouster a "coup" and decried growing allegations ofheavy-handed
   repression by security forces under interimPresident Jeanine Anez, a
   formerconservative lawmaker.

   "The coup leaders massacre indigenous and humble people forasking for
   democracy," Morales said on Twitter late Friday, following reports of
   mounting deaths.

   Anez has blamed Morales for stoking violence fromabroad,andhas said her
   government wishes to hold elections and meetwith the opposition to mend
   fences.

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